Dream-Sky Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jun 14 2010 9:55PM

The Chicago Sky have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, but they have beaten both first-place teams in the WNBA. One of those wins came against the East-leading Atlanta Dream.

The Sky look to salvage a split of a four-game homestand and continue their mastery of the Dream on Tuesday night.

Chicago (4-6) is one the most difficult teams in the league to figure. The Sky have handed West-leading Seattle its only loss and Atlanta (8-3) its lone loss at home, but have also fallen twice to lowly New York.

Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and nine rebounds and Shameka Christon added 13 points as Chicago never trailed after the first quarter of an 80-70 victory at Atlanta on June 4.

The Sky were in the midst of a four-game winning streak at that time, and that remains their lone win in seven games against the East. Chicago enters this rematch having been blown out in consecutive home games, falling 85-70 to New York last Tuesday and 95-78 to Washington on Friday.

Fowles scored a team-high 23 points and Jia Perkins had a season-high 19 against the Mystics. The problem was on the other end where the Sky turned in their worst defensive performance of the season, allowing the Mystics to shoot 61.7 percent.

"We were right in the game, even late in the fourth quarter, but we started shooting for the home run," coach Steve Key told the Sky's official website. "We've got to be smarter than that, we have to take the emotional portion out of the game and play smarter basketball."

There may be cause for optimism Tuesday. Chicago is 6-1 all-time against Atlanta, including 3-0 at home. Also encouraging, Perkins turned in her best effort of the season Friday, making 7 of 13 shots.

"It's not just about offensively, it's about me getting in a groove," Perkins said. "I think tonight I was able get a good feel for the game."

Perkins played a key role in the first meeting with Atlanta, helping hold Angel McCoughtry to a season-low 11 points. The league's second-leading scorer at 20.8 points per game, McCoughtry grew frustrated and was benched during stretches of that contest.

The Dream superstar scored 23 points in Sunday's 90-83 home win over San Antonio. Atlanta hit the 90-point mark for the fourth time, and is averaging an East-leading 83.5.

"We ran and got transition baskets," McCoughtry said. "We knew they'd get a little tired. People keep trying to stop us from running, but they can't if we play good defense and get turnovers."

Castro Marques scores 31 as Dream beat Sky 93-86

Posted Jun 16 2010 12:26AM

CHICAGO(AP) Iziane Castro Marques scored 16 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 93-86 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.

Erika DeSouza had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Sancho Lyttle scored 15 points and Angel McCoughtry and Shalee Lehning added 10 each for the Eastern Conference-leading Dream (9-3). Atlanta, which opened the season 6-0, has won three of its last four.

Chicago got off to a fast start, taking a 10 point lead midway through the first quarter. The Dream rallied and took a lead midway through the second quarter, but the Sky went back ahead by six after a jumper by Dominique Canty early in the third.

The game stayed close with both teams taking the lead several times until Castro Marques' 3-pointer put the Dream ahead for good, 64-61, in the final minute of the third quarter.

``You can never give up,'' Castro Marques said. ``They had the lead and we never gave up and kept fighting and finally get the lead and finish the game. At the end, it was very close and we never think about losing so I think we can take for next game that we are always in the game and we always can win.''

Cathrine Kraayeveld and Jia Perkins hit 3s in the final minute to cut the Sky's deficit to 89-86 with 13.8 seconds left, but Chicago didn't score again. Castro Marques made two free throws and a layup to seal the Dream's win.

``She played a great game,'' Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said of Castro Marques. ``Her speed and quickness really bothers a lot of teams. She was great on the offensive end and she did some nice things on defense too.''

Perkins scored a season-high 25 points and Sylvia Fowles had 24 for the Sky (4-7), who have lost three straight since winning four in a row. Canty added 12 points.

``I'm frustrated, but then again, you just have to let it go,'' Fowles said. ``I try not to hold things in as much this year, go back at it tomorrow at practice, learn from our mistakes and get ready for our next opponent.''

McCoughtry, second in the league in scoring at 20.8 points per game, shot 5 for 16. She had six assists and six rebounds.

``They were playing really tough on me defensively and that's how you open up for other players,'' McCoughtry said. ``I was just trying to do some other things by getting rebounds and making good passes.''

• Dream: --
• Sky: --

• Dream: --
• Sky: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: AllState Arena, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #17 Scott Twardoski, #24 Tony Dawkins, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 3292
• Duration: 2:0